city at night

city at night

Friday, February 5, 2016

Tablecloth Stainer

I have previously written about one of my favorite restaurants in the Historic Center of Mexico City, "El Cardenal".  The restaurant now has several branches, but the original one is located on Palma Street just a block away from the main plaza.

My friend and fellow blogger, Kim, had never eaten there but wanted to try it.  So on Wednesday we got together for lunch.

Kim ordered a fish dish, fillet of "róbalo".  I have seen "róbalo" on the menu in many places in Mexico, but I wasn't sure of its English translation.  Kim thought that it was halibut.  Afterwards I did some research and found out that it is snook.  (Honestly, I had never heard of snook before.)

I ordered lamb cooked in "manchamanteles" sauce.  "Manchamanteles" translates as "tablecloth stainer". It is made with chiles, tomatoes, onions, garlic, plaintains, sweet potatoes, pears and pineapple.  To protect my shirt from the infamous stains of the sauce, the waiter tied a pristine, white bib around my neck.  We will see how much of a slob I am.

(photo taken by Kim)





Kim's fish was prepared "barbacoa" style... baked with seasonings in a "maguey" leaf.  He said it was delicious.


 
My lamb in "manchamanteles" sauce was scrumptious.  It's easy to understand how the deep red sauce gets its name.

 
At the end of the meal, there was only one small drip of sauce on my bib. 
 
(photo taken by Kim)
  Not bad!

6 comments:

  1. Oh, Mexican lamb! How I miss thee!

    I don't know if I had already mentioned to you, but I've got my two weeks holiday approved by the powers that be for the middle of September. I shall be feasting on lamb aplenty.

    Have you ever eaten at Bar Chon, by the way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola Gary! September, eh? I'll have to try to be here to see you and the lovely Mrs. P. Assuming, of course, that you won't be tied up the entire time with family.

      You've still got time to work on your verb conjugations! ¡Dale!

      Saludos,

      Kim G
      DF, México
      Where we miss our photo walks.

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    2. Yes, too bad we won't be in D.F. at the same time. I always come down here in November. Well, one of these days... if not in Mexico, then in England.

      Yes, I have heard of Bar Chon, but I'm afraid I don't have the courage to handle their menu.
      Saludos,
      Bill

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  2. Snook snuck onto the menu? Wordreference.com has róbalo translated as "sea bass," which sounds about right.

    It was a lovely lunch. Too bad I was sneezing and blowing my nose the entire time.

    Saludos y gracias por tu amistad!

    Kim G
    DF, México
    Where we are overcoming a nasty cold/flu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would agree that "sea bass" sounds better. I looked up "snook" on Wikipedia, and it said that it is also known as "robalo". I then looked up "sea bass", and it said that there were many different species of fish that go by the name of "sea bass"... although it didn't list "snook" as one of them. Well, whatever it's called, I'm glad that you enjoyed your lunch!
      Un fuerte abrazo,
      Bill

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    2. This is starting to sound frighteningly circular...fishy even, haha.

      Saludos,

      Kim
      CDMX, México
      Where the fish go by suspicious aliases.

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